Markéta Magidová: You Are the Problem

Markéta is an Associate Lecturer for the School of Art & Design. As a professional visual artist and film director, she focuses primarily on animated short films, sculpture, and digital painting.

You Are the Problem

In July 2024, Markéta exhibited a sculpture installation titled You Are the Problem at the annual Boskovice Festival. Her public artwork, curated by Helena Musilová and created from metal, mosaic, concrete, and resin, was exhibited in an open space, inviting festival-goers to engage with its thought-provoking message.

The metal outlines of two shapes form overlapping circles, showing where one intrudes into the other’s space. Inside each outline, heavy black mosaics fill the shapes, while colourful resin spikes point at each other, symbolising both attack and defense. The scene captures a sense of endless pursuit, as if two figures are caught in a frozen chase, spinning in a cycle that has come to a halt.

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Markéta’s work raised the question of the unproductive tendency to seek blame. We often misunderstand each other's perspectives, shaped by life experiences, identities, genders, ethnicities, or nationalities. This can lead to quick, pseudo-rational reactions where we attack others, believing we are simply defending ourselves from perceived threats. Miscommunication and assumptions turn into cycles of defensive aggression. An endless and unsolvable cycle of defense, blame, and aggression shapes communication, maksing underlying feelings of misunderstanding, under appreciation, and a lack of accountability for one's own reactions.

When we deflect responsibility and say that "you are the problem", we abandon the opportunity to resolve conflict with empathy and understanding of the mutual dynamics at play. Instead, we build walls and impose ultimatums in the name of justice and our beliefs, reducing the unique complexities of individuals to mere stereotypes.

Visit Markéta’s website and academic profile.